Old Wadena Society

The Old Wadena Society in Staples, MN is a local non-profit group dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history and culture of the area. They organize the annual Old Wadena Rendezvous and Chautauqua, a lively event featuring musicians, educational classes, and demonstrations such as birch bark canoe construction. The society also holds regular meetings and works on various projects, including the installation of a memorial for Dr. Duane Lund at the Old Wadena park.

Peter Gorton, a Staples native, is actively involved with the Old Wadena Society and has been working tirelessly to bring recognition to the baseball great John Wesley Donaldson. Gorton's efforts include researching and documenting Donaldson's career, which spanned from 1908 to 1940, and advocating for his induction into the baseball's National Hall of Fame. Through his organization, The Donaldson Network, Gorton aims to share the remarkable story and legacy of John Donaldson, who played for town teams in central and southern Minnesota during a time when black athletes were banned from the major leagues.

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